Last updated 16:56, Wednesday, 09 July 2008

RAT RUN CLAIM: Market Street, and, inset, Dr Geoff Dellow REF: 0418199

A TOWN centre street in Ulverston must be pedestrianised to stop it being used as a rat run, a would-be councillor has claimed.

Prospective county councillor for the area, Dr Geoff Dellow, is calling for the cobbled Market Street to be closed to traffic.

The former chemical engineer for Glaxo says this will help to prevent someone being run over as drivers use New Market Street and Market Street as a traffic light-free route to the A590.

“A life could be lost if this situation continues to get worse,” Dr Dellow said. “This could very soon result in a serious accident. I have witnessed narrow escapes here as motorists take this corner from the right of New Market Street into Market Street far too quickly.”

An alternative to pedestrianisation for the road would be to reverse the flow of traffic – directing vehicles towards the town centre from the A590 roundabout, Dr Dellow states.

But his view is not echoed by district council representative for Ulverston, councillor Jamie Samson, who declared any such move would be bad for the town. Cllr Samson, elected to the district council in May, said he was not aware of any issues with rat runners using the street.

“Pedestrianisation for Market Street could kill Ulverston,” he added.

“Most drivers use the street incredibly sensibly. If there is an issue, it may only be with a very small minority of boy racers in the evening. On the whole though we are lucky, Ulverston’s streets are not suitable as a race track,” he said.

However, Cllr Samson is now urging people to get in touch with him if there is indeed a problem.

“No-one has raised this with me, but if this is something people are concerned about, I will make sure it is looked at carefully.”